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28 February 2024
Alien in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara sentenced Jose Jaime Morado Zepeda (28) to three years and six months in federal prison for being an alien in possession of multiple firearms and ammunition. Morado Zepeda entered a guilty plea on November 15, 2023.
According to court documents, on June 27, 2023, a deputy from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested Morado Zepeda for driving under the influence. From the truck that Morado Zepeda was driving, deputies recovered two Colt MK IV 45 caliber pistols, a Riley Defense Inc. RAK47 7.62x39mm caliber rifle, a Romarm/Cugir GP WASR-10/63 7.62x39mm caliber rifle, a Winchester 94AE 30-30 caliber rifle, and assorted ammunition.
Subsequent to his arrest, an agent from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations performed an immigration records check on Morado Zepeda and determined that he was a native and citizen of Mexico with no legal status in the United States.
On July 14, 2023, during an interview with federal agents, Morado Zepeda admitted that he was born in Mexico, did not have legal status in the United States, and that he bought and owned the firearms located in the truck.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Sarasota, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Port Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, announced that Danyell Kerr, Jr. was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Kerr, 32, of Albuquerque, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Nov. 27, 2023.
According to publicly available court records, on April 20, 2023, DEA agents received information from a citizen that Kerr was a supplier of fentanyl. The citizen called Kerr and set up a time and location to buy fentanyl pills. DEA agents established surveillance at the predetermined meet location and observed Kerr arrive at the location. Agents approached Kerr and arrested him. When they searched the vehicle that he was driving, they located, within arms reach of the driver’s seat, 984.4 gross grams of fentanyl pills and a pistol, loaded with a round chambered.
Upon his release from prison, Kerr will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with the assistance of the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Spindle prosecuted the case.
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27 February 2024
Wiggins Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 250 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Wiggins man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 250 grams of a substance containing fentanyl.
According to court documents, on September 7, 2023, the Wiggins Police Department received information that George Tavoris Moore, Jr., 28, was expected to receive a package containing fentanyl at a Wiggins address. A subsequent investigation led to a search of the Wiggins residence and the package. The search yielded approximately 252 grams of pills containing fentanyl.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
Moore pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Wiggins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
West Lafayette Man Convicted of Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Markith Dushawn Williams, 38 years old, of West Lafayette, Indiana, was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Williams is scheduled for sentencing at a later date. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Grindlay and Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit Releases Information on Efforts to Protect Voting Rights and to Secure ElectionsRead the Press Release
BOISE – Today, in advance of this year’s federal election cycle, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit is providing information about his Office’s efforts to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to vote free of violence, intimidation, discrimination, and other criminal activity in the election process.
Consistent with Department of Justice (DOJ) practices across the country, multiple Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) from around Idaho have been appointed to lead the efforts of his Office to ensure a safe, free, and fair election.
DOJ has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. DOJ will address these violations wherever they occur.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
Federal law also requires that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote, and DOJ’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Checklist for Polling Places (www.ada.gov/votingchecklist.htm) provides guidance to election officials for determining whether a polling place already has the basic accessibility features needed by most voters with disabilities or can be made accessible using temporary solutions. Additionally, DOJ has published Solutions for Five Common ADA Access Problems at Polling Places, available at this link: (https://www.ada.gov/resources/solutions-voting-problems/). Additional information is available on DOJ’s website (https://www.ada.gov/topics/voting/).
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy,” U.S. Attorney Hurwit stated. “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. We will be prepared to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election cycle.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho can be reached at (208) 334-1211. The FBI will also have special agents available in throughout the country to receive allegations of threats of violence and other election abuses related to voting. The Salt Lake City FBI field office, which covers Idaho, can be reached by the public at (801) 579-1400.
In addition, complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at (800) 253-3931 or by complaint form on DOJ’s website (https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/).
Finally, individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call DOJ’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY), or submit a complaint through a link on DOJ’s ADA website (https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/).
U.S. Attorney Hurwit said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud report it to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, that complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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U.S. Attorney and Federal Law Enforcement Officials Announce Extradition of Honduran Nationals in Fight Against Fentanyl Trafficking in the Tenderloin District of San FranciscoRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey convened a press conference today with Brian Clark, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Robert K. Tripp, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to announce that the government of Honduras extradited three of its nationals to the United States. The three Honduran nationals now will face federal felony charges that they were involved in separate conspiracies to sell drugs in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. U.S. Attorney Ramsey used the occasion to provide an update the progress being made after his November 2023 announcement that federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities would be implementing “All Hands on Deck,” a joint law enforcement initiative to address drug dealing in San Francisco.
The three extradited Honduran nationals are Jorge Alberto Viera-Chirinos, 34; Mayer Benegas-Medina, 30; and Elmer Bonilla Matute, 34.
Viera-Chirinos was originally charged by criminal complaint on July 29, 2019, with charges that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute drugs on the Tenderloin. Viera-Chirinos was arrested the same day. On May 6, 2020, he was released on bond. A federal grand jury indicted Viera-Chirinos on August 8, 2019; the indictment alleges he is one of 14 defendants trafficking large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine in San Francisco. The indictment alleged Viera-Chirinos was a high-level manager of the organization responsible for having overseen the organization’s drug trafficking activities. On September 2, 2020, he fled from the home where he was required to stay while on release, thereby violating the terms of his bond. The court issued an arrest warrant but Viera-Chirinos fled to Honduras where he was later found. He will now face the charges set out in the August 2019 indictment. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter H Kang on Feb. 23, 2024. His next appearance is scheduled to take place February 28, 2023, before Magistrate Judge Kang.
A federal grand jury indicted Mayer Benegas-Medina on December 16, 2020. The indictment alleges Benegas participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Benegas was arrested on December 10, 2020, and on December 21, 2020, he was ordered released on bond. The terms of his release included electronic monitoring and a curfew. In March 2021, he absconded. He was found in Honduras and made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Kang on Feb. 23, 2024. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 26, 2024, before the Hon. William Alsup, U.S. District Judge.
A federal grand jury indicted Matute on Dec. 19, 2019, charging him with possession with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base. The indictment alleges Matute is part of a drug trafficking organization based in San Francisco and that, between approximately 2017 and 2019, was responsible for distributing large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine as well as trafficking the drugs through the State of Oregon and into the State of Washington. Matute appeared before Magistrate Judge Kang this morning. His next appearance in district court is scheduled for April 3, 2024, before Hon. Vince Chhabria, U.S. District Judge.
At today’s press conference, U.S. Attorney Ramsey stated that as the elements of “All Hands on Deck” are implemented, the pressure on drug dealers in the Tenderloin will continue to increase. “In addition to the risk that your money will be taken and that you may face criminal penalties far in excess than you anticipated, you can now add that you should look over your shoulder for years after committing your crime—even if you leave the country.” In addition, U.S. Attorney Ramsey stated that various elements of the “All Hands on Deck” initiative continue to be implemented. U.S. Attorney Ramsey recited several cases in which defendant received lengthy sentences and reviewed additional elements of “All Hands on Deck” including the following:
• The Office of the United States Attorney is pursuing criminal actions related to money services businesses that facilitate the movement of drug profits.
• The Office of the United States Attorney has convicted 51 defendants under a Fast Track program. The program supplements traditional federal drug distribution cases and brings consequences to low-level dealers in the Tenderloin.
• Federal prosecutors join with local prosecutors at state court on two random days per week to review cases that can be pursued in federal, rather than state, courts.
“In sum,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey, “drug dealing in the Tenderloin is simply a different proposition than it’s been in the past.”
“These extraditions should send a clear message to those who peddle poison in San Francisco: if you traffic deadly drugs that threaten the safety and health of our community, if you flee from justice, if you think you can hide, you are wrong. DEA will be relentless in our pursuit to hold you accountable,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark.
U.S. Attorney Ramsey thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their substantial assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of Viera-Chirinos, Benegas-Medina and Matute.
Two Queens Men Convicted of Drug-Related Murder of Run-DMC D.J. Jason Mizell, Also Known as "Jam Master Jay"Read the Press Release
Today, a federal jury in Brooklyn returned a guilty verdict against Karl Jordan, Jr., and Ronald Washington for the October 30, 2002, murder of Jason Mizell, also known as “Jam Master Jay,” a member of the famed hip hop group Run-DMC. Both defendants were charged with murder while engaged in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy and firearm-related murder for the fatal shooting of Mizell inside the victim’s recording studio in Hollis, Queens. The verdict followed a four-week trial before United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall. When sentenced, Jordan and Washington face a minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum term of life imprisonment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the verdict.
“More than two decades after they killed Jason Mizell in his recording studio, Jordan and Washington have finally been held accountable for their cold-blooded crime driven by greed and revenge,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “That the victim, professionally known as Jam Master Jay, was a hip hop icon and Run-DMC’s music was born in Hollis, Queens, in this very district, and beloved by so many, adds to the tragedy of a life senselessly cut short. I thank the jurors for their service, and I commend our prosecutors, the NYPD detectives, both active and retired, and the Special Agents and investigators from the ATF and my office, for their relentless pursuit of justice for the victim, his family, and the community.”Mr. Peace also expressed his thanks to the NYPD Intelligence Division, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Queens County District Attorney’s Office, and Dominican Republic National Police for their assistance.
“Today’s guilty verdicts provides proof that the passage of time provides no safe harbor to those who commit murder. For us in ATF, our memory is long, and our resolve is steadfast. We have no tolerance for those who would take a life, and we are committed to seeing justice done. We thank our partners who are a part of ATF NY Joint Firearms Task Force -Long Island, NYPD, U.S. Marshals and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Eastern District of NY who share the same commitment and resolve. We offer our hope to the family, friends, and fans of Jason Mizell that today’s verdict gives some closure,” stated ATF Special Agent-in-Charge DeVito.
“In every homicide investigation, NYPD detectives are meticulous, patient, and tireless in their efforts to help secure guilty verdicts like these rendered today,” stated NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “A cold case is never a forgotten case. In the decades since Mr. Mizell was brutally murdered, the greatest detectives in the world followed every lead until arrests could be made, and a solid case could be brought to our partners in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Mizell’s loved ones – who long-expected and deserved justice to be delivered – were patient, too, and we hope the jury’s decisions today advance a small measure of closure.”
As proven at trial, between the 1990s and 2002, separate from his music career, Mizell was involved in arranging for the sale of kilogram-quantities of cocaine in the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere. In August 2002, Mizell acquired approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine on consignment from a supplier based in California. The cocaine was intended to be distributed in Maryland by Washington, Jordan and other co-conspirators. A dispute between Washington and one of the co-conspirators in Baltimore resulted in Mizell cutting Washington and Jordan out of the Maryland drug deal worth almost $200,000. Following this betrayal, Washington and Jordan continued in the larger narcotics conspiracy until they could ultimately cut out Jason Mizell by murdering him on October 30, 2002.
On Wednesday, October 30, 2002, Mizell was present at his recording studio, “24/7,” located on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, playing a video game with a friend and reviewing paperwork with his business manager. At approximately 7:30 p.m., the defendants’ co-conspirator opened a locked fire escape exit door allowing Washington and Jordan to enter the building without being seen by Mizell. Jordan, who was the victim’s godson, and Washington went upstairs to the recording studio where Jordan greeted Mizell, who was sitting on the couch and initially appeared happy to see him. Things turned quickly, with Jordan pointing a gun at Mizell and firing two shots at close range. One shot hit Mizell in the head, killing him instantly. The second shot struck Mizell’s friend in the leg. Mizell’s business manager tried to flee and was met by Washington, who pointed a gun at her face and demanded that she lay on the floor. The three defendants fled the scene. The defendants variously made admissions to associates implicating themselves in the fatal shooting or bragging about being the shooter. For example, a witness who lived in a residence owned by Jordan’s father, testified that he overheard Jordan say that if Mizell “were still alive he would kill him again.” Washington’s former girlfriend testified that several days after the murder, he admitted killing Mizell. Additionally at trial, Jordan was identified as the shooter by the individual who was shot in the leg, and Mizell’s business manager identified Washington as being present in the recording studio during the murder and pointing a firearm at her and ordering her to get down on the floor.
The co-conspirator who allowed the defendants to enter through the fire escape door will be tried separately for his role in Mizell’s murder in January 2026 and remains innocent until proven guilty. Jordan is also charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine distribution and will be tried on those counts at a later date.
Assistant United States Attorneys Artie McConnell, Mark E. Misorek and Miranda Gonzalez are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Anna November and Samantha Schroder.
The Defendants:
KARL JORDAN, JR. (also known as “Little D” and “Noid”)
Age: 40
Hollis, QueensRONALD WASHINGTON (also known as “Tinard”)
Age: 59
Hollis, QueensE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-305 (LDH)
Two New Kensington Residents Indicted for Possessing and Conspiring to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Two residents of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotic laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Marcos Francisco-Tomas, 33, and Andres Flores-Cedeno, 27, as the defendants.
According to the Indictment, on February 17, 2024, Francisco-Tomas and Flores-Cedeno allegedly conspired to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, with the defendants also possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on the same date.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Douglas C. Maloney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Defendants Charged with Stealing or Misusing $20 Million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program BenefitsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Dawood Kassim and Dia Alqalisi with trafficking and stealing millions of dollars in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. To carry out the fraud, the defendants allegedly engaged in thousands of SNAP transactions out of a bodega in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn which Kassim owned. The defendants were arrested this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak. One defendant charged in the indictment remains at large.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Erin Keegan, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Charmeka Parker, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region (USDA-OIG), announced the charges.
“As alleged, the defendants trafficked and stole a massive amount of SNAP benefits from thousands of victims, illegally profiting from federally funded benefits intended for those in need of nutritious meals—which is especially vital in these times of high food costs,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The arrests today should be a wakeup call to those who think government programs are a piggy bank they can pillage without fear of consequences.”
“The defendants are accused of robbing the food stamps program of millions of dollars intended to assist the well-meaning public in feeding their families. Through this Brooklyn corner store, they allegedly defrauded unsuspecting food stamp recipients in several states across the country, and to the tune of $20 million," said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan. "I commend HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force and our law enforcement partners for their outstanding coordination in ensuring these vital benefits go to those who truly need them.”
According to the indictment and court filings, SNAP is administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and utilizes federal tax dollars to subsidize low-income households, affording such households the opportunity to achieve a more nutritious diet by increasing their food purchasing power. Individuals who receive SNAP benefits no longer redeem their benefits using paper food stamp coupons but use what is known as an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Using EBT cards, recipients can make authorized purchases, and the total amount of the purchase is electronically deducted from the recipient’s card balance. The same amount of the transaction is electronically transferred to the retailer’s designated bank account, using federal funds that originate from the USDA.
From April 2022 through December 2022, the defendants allegedly conducted fraudulent SNAP transactions out of Throop Farm Market, a bodega located at the corner of Throop and Greene Avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant. First, the defendants engaged in trafficking SNAP benefits by allowing SNAP recipients to exchange SNAP benefits for cash or non-SNAP eligible goods, such as beer, with the defendants keeping a portion of the benefits for themselves as payment. Second, Kassim stole SNAP benefits from unsuspecting victims by using counterfeit and stolen SNAP EBT cards at Throop Farm Market. The victims of the defendants’ crimes included recipients of SNAP benefits residing in Tennessee, Virginia and California, among other states. Through these transactions, the defendants received over $20 million dollars in federally funded SNAP benefits, including over $7 million dollars’ worth of SNAP benefits from accounts of recipients living outside of New York.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant United States Attorney Irisa Chen is in charge of the prosecution. The investigation is being conducted by HSI’s El Dorado Task Force in New York together with the USDA-OIG.
Law enforcement agents have identified numerous recipients of SNAP benefits whose benefits were stolen by the defendants. If any SNAP benefit recipients believe their benefits were stolen and used at Throop Farm Market or other businesses, they should contact the USDA-OIG at https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/resources/hotline-information or 1-800-424-9121.
The Defendants:
DAWOOD KASSIM (also known as “Badr al din Kassim”)
Age: 31
Brooklyn, New YorkDIA ALQALISI (also known as “Diaaldeen Alqalisi”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-67 (KAM)
Two Charged in Connection with Search of Bronx Drug Mail Order Distribution Center Containing Approximately 100,000 Pills of Suspected Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”); and Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the filing of a Complaint in Manhattan federal court charging EDWARD EUSTATE JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Chino,” and WILIANYI ALMANZAR POLANCO with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution of narcotics. JIMENEZ and POLANCO were arrested yesterday afternoon in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. They were presented earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This seizure removed substantial quantities of narcotics from the streets and helped to disrupt an alleged mail order business that promised legitimate prescriptions drugs but was really distributing deadly narcotics, like fentanyl. I express deep gratitude to the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office as we remain committed to saving lives by keeping fentanyl off the streets of our community.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “Simply put, this alleged fentanyl pill distribution organization was delivering deadly fentanyl to doorstops across America. This emerging trend of mail order fentanyl pill delivery services elevates the danger of ordering pills from rogue online platforms and social media. Fentanyl is the greatest threat to Americans ages 18-45, and DEA lab analysis has found that 7 out of 10 fentanyl pills contain a potential lethal dose; therefore, tens of thousands of potential lethal doses were removed from circulation today. I commend our law enforcement partners for their collaboration and focus on arresting drug traffickers bringing the most harm to our communities and taking deadly poison off our streets.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “Fentanyl contributed to more than 100,000 overdose fatalities in 2023 — with a large number of cases tragically stemming from individuals unknowingly ingesting fentanyl in seemingly legitimate pharmaceuticals purchased via the Internet and delivered through the mail. The goal of the HSI New York El Dorado Task Force is to leverage every tool at the state, local, and federal level to disrupt fentanyl production, transportation, and distribution both locally and globally. Working with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will continue to conduct cross border investigations that degrade the ability of drug traffickers to operate in the New York City area and beyond, ultimately making a profound impact in the fight against the opioid crisis and saving innocent lives.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
Since at least in or about September 2023, law enforcement has been investigating a network of drug traffickers (the “Drug Traffickers”) who, among other things, have been distributing large quantities of counterfeit prescription drugs using a mail-order system. The drugs distributed include pills colored and pressed to look like, among other things, prescription oxycodone and Adderall, but that are, in fact, counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.
On multiple occasions, an undercover law enforcement officer purchased pills from the Drug Traffickers which tested positive for, among other things, fentanyl. Postal records show that at least two of the packages of pills were mailed by someone who appears to be JIMENEZ from a post office (the “Post Office”) located in the Bronx. Since in or about January 20, 2024, JIMENEZ appears to have sent approximately 188 U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) packages, including approximately 80 packages that were sent from the Post Office. On at least one occasion, he was joined by an individual who appears to be POLANCO.
On or about February 26, 2024, law enforcement agents arrested JIMENEZ and POLANCO. At the time of his arrest, JIMENEZ was scanning parcels for mailing. Around the same time, law enforcement arrested POLANCO, who was waiting in a vehicle near the Post Office. Inside the vehicle was a black trash bag containing additional mail packages.
In total, law enforcement encountered more than 35 priority mail packages, each of which contained a quantity of what appeared to be counterfeit prescription pills. The contents of two of the priority mail packages, containing what appears to be counterfeit oxycodone and counterfeit Adderall, are pictured below:
Also on or about February 26, 2024, law enforcement searched an apartment (the “Apartment”) that was rented or lived in by JIMENEZ and POLANCO and used to package and distribute narcotics for mailing. During the course of that search, law enforcement officers recovered approximately 100,000 counterfeit pills that appear to be colored and pressed to imitate, among other things, prescription oxycodone, Adderall, and Xanax; a “kilo press,” or device used to press powdered narcotics into kilogram-weight bricks; over 2,000 USPS priority mail envelopes that appear to be unused; and bags containing what appear to be shipping receipts. A photograph of the narcotics and some of the other material recovered from the Apartment is below:
Although lab testing is pending, preliminary field tests reveal that almost all of the narcotics recovered have tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine.
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EDWARD EUSTATE JIMENEZ, 23, and WILIANYI ALMANZAR POLANCO, 32, both of the Bronx, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and one count of narcotics distribution, both of which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the El Dorado Task Force International Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit, which is comprised of law enforcement officers and investigators from the DEA, HSI, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, the USPS, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, in connection with this investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York Strike Force Tactical Diversion Squad for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Adam Sowlati are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Trucker convicted for trafficking several aliens into South TexasRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a 51-year-old man for unlawfully transporting undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before finding Andrew Rafael Martinez-Peralta, Newark, New Jersey, guilty following a two-day trial.
On July 5, 2023, Martinez-Peralta drove a tractor-trailer to the Sarita Border Patrol checkpoint. During a search, a K-9 alerted to the sleeper area where authorities subsequently discovered seven illegal aliens concealed within the bed compartment of the tractor, in a toolbox under the bed and inside a closet.
The jury heard how authorities found the aliens’ cell phones directly above Martinez-Peralta’s head. Testimony revealed he had collected the phones while transporting them to the checkpoint.
A witness also stated that he had agreed to pay $25,000 to be smuggled into the United States from Brazil with a final destination in Massachusetts.
At the trial, Martinez-Peralta testified and argued he had no knowledge of the illegal aliens’ presence in his vehicle despite checking the bed compartment before traveling to the checkpoint. The jury ultimately did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.
“Martinez-Peralta claimed he didn’t know that there were seven migrants in the sleeper area of his tractor-trailer, a claim so incredible that it took the jury less than an hour to find him guilty,” said Hamdani. “The smuggling of migrants across Texas’s southern border is a pernicious problem made worse by human smugglers, like Martinez-Peralta, who use their tractor-trailers and the cover of legitimate commercial activities to mask illegal and harmful activities.”
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for May 22. At that time, Martinez-Peralta faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Martinez-Peralta was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida Collects over Three and A Half Million Dollars in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2023Read the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced today that the Northern District of Florida collected $3,654,556.70 related to local criminal and civil matters in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $3,078,183.32 was collected in criminal actions and $576,373.38 was collected in civil actions.
“These impressive numbers are the result of the hard work by our office’s civil and criminal divisions, and strong coordination with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This office will always seek to recover every dollar possible from those who engage in illegal activities so that those funds can be restored to the federal treasury, and help victims recover from crimes perpetrated against them.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The Northern District of Florida’s Civil Division recovered a total of $8,337,055 in affirmative civil enforcement cases during the last fiscal year. This amount has two components. In addition to its efforts in local civil cases which led to collections totaling $576,373.38, the District’s Civil Division also joins forces with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and with the Department of Justice Civil Frauds Section to address illicit conduct. The Northern District’s Civil Division recovered an additional $7,760,682 in these jointly handled cases.
Additionally, the Northern District of Florida’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, working with partner law enforcement agencies, forfeited $3,801,719 through criminal and civil asset forfeiture proceedings in fiscal year 2023. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
For more information about the Crime Victims Fund, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/about/crime-victims-fund.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Texas Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL)Read the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Texas man was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay restitution for illegally obtaining more than $400,000 in government benefits.
According to court documents, Ganiyu Abayomi Jimoh, 30, a Nigerian national with dual United States citizenship, conspired with others to commit wire fraud by opening numerous bank accounts in Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties using other individuals’ personal identifying information, then fraudulently applying for multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) through the Small Business Administration (SBA). In August and September 2020, Jimoh received four direct deposits from the SBA totaling $439,500.
At the time of the instant offense, Jimoh was on federal bond out of the Southern District of Texas. Although Jimoh lived in Houston, Texas, he traveled to Mississippi on multiple occasions to visit different banks.
Jimoh pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His sentence will be served consecutively to an undischarged term of imprisonment on federal offenses committed in the Southern District of Texas.
“The United States Secret Service is committed to investigating and pursuing those who aim to take advantage of victims while trying to exploit our nation’s financial infrastructure,” said Kyle Smith, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Jackson Resident Office. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, this individual will be held responsible for these crimes.”
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Texas Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Honest Services FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell today sentenced Michael Shirley (40, Austin, TX) to seven years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and honest services fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $536,402.33, which are the proceeds of the offenses. Shirley was found guilty following a jury trial on July 27, 2023.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Shirley served as a campaign consultant for former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg in 2016. After Greenberg was elected, Greenberg and Shirley, through Shirley’s company Praetorian Integrated Services LLC, entered into a lucrative contract that provided Shirley with $12,500 each month for the performance of consulting services to the Tax Collector’s office. In that capacity, the evidence established that Shirley did little to no work. Additionally, Shirley began submitting grossly inflated invoices to the Tax collector’s office for printing services.
On September 25, 2017, Shirley, through Joseph Ellicott, paid Greenberg a $6,000 cash kickback and bribe. Ellicott was sentenced for his role in this scheme in 2022 and testified during the trial. As a result of the kickback and bribe, Shirley was allowed to continue billing the Seminole County Tax Collector’s office into September 2019. The evidence established that between October 2017 and September 2019, Shirley performed almost no work for the Tax Collector’s office. As a result of the kickback and bribery scheme, Shirley defrauded the taxpayers of Seminole County out of more than $634,000.
This case was investigated by United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Daniels and Chauncey Bratt.
Tallahassee Physician Agrees to Pay $60,000 to Settle Allegations That She Violated the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Dr. Mary C. Watson of Tallahassee, Florida, settled potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) by agreeing to pay a fine of $60,000 after previously voluntarily surrendering her DEA Registration in October 2023. The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“This settlement, involving a fine and surrender of the physician’s DEA Registration, reinforces required compliance with the Controlled Substances Act,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody. “Accurate record keeping is not only required but helps ensure controlled substances are not abused by physicians and diverted for personal use. With the assistance of investigators in the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Program, we remain committed to holding physicians accountable for their responsibilities under federal law.”
Dr. Watson entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida after the investigation revealed numerous potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act. The government contended that Dr. Watson issued at least 76 controlled substance prescriptions for Phendimentrazine (a diet drug) and failed to maintain any patient files for those prescriptions.
“The Controlled Substance Act requires DEA registrants to maintain accurate inventorying, tracking, and record keeping to prevent the diversion of controlled substances,” said DEA Miami Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The DEA Miami Field Division remains committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to hold DEA registrants accountable to protect the safety and health of our Florida communities.”
This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Dr. Watson, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matter, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Program.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
St. Louis County Man Admits Shooting at PoliceRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County, Missouri man on Tuesday admitted shooting at police and federal task force officers in 2021.
Derek D. Brown, 50, of Jennings, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of assault on a federal officer and two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Brown admitted that early on the morning of March 18, 2021, he went to his wife’s daughter’s house in St. Louis County to confront his wife. While there, Brown took his daughter’s .45-caliber pistol. Responding officers learned about the gun and that Brown had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation. Relatives told police that he would probably go to his sister’s house.
Police officers, including those who had been deputized as federal task force officers, went to the sister’s home. Brown came out of the house, and when officers told him that he was under arrest, he began shooting. He fired multiple times, including at the federal task force officers, and continued to fire through the home’s screen door and then through the closed front door. Brown eventually surrendered.
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced May 28. The assault charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Each discharge of a firearm charge carries a penalty of at least 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other charges.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce is prosecuting the case.
South Florida Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Firearm Offense in Relation to Shooting at the Palm Beach Gardens MallRead the Press Release
MIAMI - Kamarcio Mitchell, 28, of West Palm Beach, was indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The indictment follows Mitchell’s arrest, on Feb. 16, pursuant to a joint response by local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to a shooting that occurred at the Palm Beach Gardens Mall (The Gardens Mall) on Valentine’s Day.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint and the charges set forth in the indictment, on Feb. 14, Mitchell was at The Gardens Mall with a firearm. Surveillance video captured Mitchell on the second level of The Gardens Mall near a retail store. Mitchell followed another male onto the escalator and was manipulating an object under his shirt. Mitchell was then fired upon by the other male and shot. Mitchell fled the mall to the parking lot, leaving a trail of blood. A loaded firearm that had been disassembled was found in the parking lot by police, near the blood trail. Mitchell was later treated for his injury at a local hospital where he admitted to being shot. The investigation by law enforcement determined that the firearm found in The Gardens Mall parking lot was a loaded handgun that had previously travelled in interstate commerce.
Mitchell is a convicted felon and based upon his prior criminal history is charged as an Armed Career Criminal. If convicted, Mitchell faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years to a maximum sentence of life.
Mitchell has stipulated to pretrial detention, pending the possibility of a future hearing to determine bond. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for March 5.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the U.S. Marshals Service, Chief Clinton Shannon of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced the indictment.
The Office of State Attorney Dave Aronberg for the 15th Judicial Circuit – Palm Beach County provided invaluable assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys John McMillan and Shannon O’Shea Darsch are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is a part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through the PSN program a broad spectrum of law enforcement and community stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to reduce violence crime and gun violence, and to make our local neighborhoods safer for everyone.
A criminal complaint and indictment contain allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-80022-AMC.
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South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to CarjackingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that, on February 20, 2024, ONIS WASHINGTON, age 25, a resident of South Carolina, pled guilty to committing a carjacking, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119, before U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey. WASHINGTON faces a maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00. WASHINGTON’s sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2024.
On January 2, 2022, in the 1000 block of Carondelet Street, WASHINGTON and his co-defendant forcefully stole a car from the victim and fled in the stolen vehicle. Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department tracked and located the vehicle, but it refused to stop. Following a chase, WASHINGTON and his co-defendant hit several vehicles and crashed the stolen vehicle, before fleeing on foot. WASHINGTON was later arrested in South Carolina.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
Sidney Man Sentenced for Sex Offender Registration ViolationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jack Brown Wilson, 44, of Big Springs, Nebraska, was sentenced February 27, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Wilson to time served. He will now begin a 5-year term of supervised release and still register as a sex offender.
Judge Gerrard noted that Wilson’s case was “unique” in that the investigation revealed that Wilson had attempted to register in Cheyenne County as a sex offender. However, Cheyenne County acknowledged that their system did not save his completed sex offender registration. Further investigation revealed the defendant’s attempt at registration fell outside of the time requirements under federal law. Mr. Wilson was given the opportunity to explain what had happened as the investigation commenced, but failed to attend the scheduled meeting and stopped answering his phone. Approximately a week later, he moved to another state. “You could have saved yourself a lot of pain with a little bit of effort” the Judge noted in imposing his sentence.
SORNA, also known as the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act, requires that a convicted sex offender register in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, where the offender is employed, or where the offender is a student, and that the sex offender maintain current registrations. Wilson’ was required to register as a sex offender because he had been convicted of one count of sexual contact with a minor in 2017 in the District Court for Sedgwick County, Colorado. This conviction required that Wilson register as a sex offender in the state of Colorado, and by federal law, in any other state to which he moved. Wilson became a resident in Nebraska in 2021 and failed to register.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals.
San Antonio Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Supporting TerroristsRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 160 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for conspiring to murder overseas and provide material support to terrorists.
According to court documents, Imad Eddin Wadi, 67, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Damascus, Syria, conspired to commit murder with terrorist groups and funnel funds to members and affiliates of U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations, including al-Nusrah Front, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
On May 25, 2023, after a nine-day trial, Wadi was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to murder and maim in a foreign country, one count of conspiracy to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist groups, and one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists.
“By his own admissions, this defendant has been knowingly supporting this jihadi terrorist group for years,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “American citizens may never provide support to terrorist organizations, financial or otherwise, nor decide whose lives to target overseas. Thanks to the dedication and investigative skill by our partners in the FBI JTTF, Wadi’s financial support of terrorists has ceased, and he will spend the rest of his life under our watch.”
“The FBI’s top priority is to protect the United States from a terrorist attack. This sentencing highlights the FBI’s unyielding commitment to stop those who fund or assist foreign terrorist organizations or their affiliates,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron G. Tapp for the FBI San Antonio Division. “We are profoundly grateful for our partners on the San Antonio Joint Terrorism Task Force who work with us every day to protect the American people and who did exceptional work on this case.”
The FBI JTTF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and William Harris prosecuted the case.
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Retired sergeant imprisoned for sending child pornography via online chat groupRead the Press Release
GALVESTON, Texas – A 50-year-old Texas City resident has been sentenced for distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Ryan N. Curving pleaded guilty Aug. 22, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown has now ordered him to serve 120 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence as to how Curving, a retired police sergeant from the Paterson, New Jersey, Police Department, sent child pornography videos to five other individuals through Kik Messenger. In handing down the prison term, the court noted that Curving’s actions of distributing those videos perpetuates the harm caused to the victims that are being sexually abused in the videos. Curving was further ordered to pay a $5,000 assessment to the Justice for Victims Trafficking Act and a $5,000 assessment to the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act. He will also serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Curving will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Curving hid behind a computer and watched helpless minor children being raped and abused,” said Hamdani. “It is deplorable that someone who worked as an officer for 25 years and took an oath to serve and protect the public, did just the opposite. This sentence demonstrates our dedication to holding anyone – regardless of their background – accountable for their part in the exchange of images that do nothing more than harm innocent lives.”
Curving had joined an online chat group on Kik that is known for the trading of child pornography and pictures of relatives as well as discussions and fantasies of familial sexual abuse.
Curving came to the attention of law enforcement after utilizing his Kik account to distribute child pornography. On Dec. 6, 2022, authorities executed a search warrant at his residence. At that time, he admitted to downloading and sending child pornography to other Kik users and had been curious about child pornography for two years.
Additionally, he admitted to creating a second Kik account in order to continue his conduct following the termination of his first one after administrators found child pornography in it.
Curving was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations-Galveston conducted the investigation with the assistance of police departments in Pearland and Galveston and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Readout of Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri’s Trip to GermanyRead the Press Release
Acting Assistant Attorney General (A/AAG) Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division traveled to Berlin, Germany, to participate in and deliver remarks on Feb. 23 at the Bundesministerium der Justiz’s (BMJ) — also known as Germany’s Federal Ministry of Justice — International Conference on International Criminal Law titled, “Responding to crimes under international law: Holding war criminals to account.” She also met with international law enforcement partners and U.S. law enforcement assigned to U.S. Embassy Berlin to discuss law enforcement efforts between the two countries and advance the bilateral relationship with Germany on complex transnational criminal and national security matters.
A/AAG Argentieri was joined by U.S. Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression Jessica Kim and War Crimes Accountability Team (WarCAT) Director Christian Levesque, who also participated on different panels at the conference, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs former Attaché to Germany Andrea Tisi Austin.
On Feb. 22, A/AAG Argentieri met with U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission W. Clark Price to express the Justice Department’s gratitude for the Embassy’s support of Justice Department attachés. She then had a bilateral meeting with prosecutors of the German Federal Ministry of Justice, including Dr. Bernhard Böhm, who leads the International Criminal Law Division. She thanked them for the strong law enforcement relationship between the United States and Germany and cooperation on mutual legal assistance matters, as well as shared challenges. Following the meeting, she attended an evening reception at the Federal Ministry of Justice where conference participants were welcomed by German Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann.
U.S. Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression Kim, A/AAG Argentieri, Deputy Chief of Mission Clark Price, former Attaché to Germany Tisi Austin, and WarCAT Director Levesque.
The BMJ organized and hosted an international conference on Feb. 23, with high-ranking representatives from government, the judiciary, lawyers, and victim representatives. The aim of the conference was to underline the need for and importance of continued cooperation at the international level in the context of addressing conflict-related issues in support of Ukraine. A/AAG Argentieri delivered remarks on the work that the department has done to assist Ukraine and participated on the first conference panel entitled, “Supporting Ukraine Two Years after the Russian Attack,” with German Minister of Justice Buschmann and his Polish counterpart, Dr. Adam Bodnar.
A/AAG Argentieri delivering remarks at the International Conference on International Criminal Law. Polish Minister of Justice Bodnar and German Minister of Justice Buschmann seated.
On Friday, A/AAG Argentieri met individually with Polish Minister of Justice Bodnar to strengthen ongoing cooperation with Poland in advancing accountability for Ukraine, including joint efforts in the Eurojust-based Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for atrocity crimes and at the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA). Separately, she met with President of Eurojust Ladislav Hamran to reiterate the value the department places in Eurojust and thank him for everything he has done to facilitate the Justice Department’s expanded partnership with Eurojust, which is exemplified by the three U.S. prosecutors assigned to Eurojust, including two liaison prosecutors and U.S. Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine Kim. A/AAG Argentieri also met with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin to express appreciation for their excellent law enforcement relationship and discuss how the United States can further efforts supporting Ukraine. Lastly, she met with Germany’s Acting Federal Public Prosecutor General Dr. Lars Otte to discuss continued cooperation and shared law enforcement priorities on Russian war crimes and other atrocities committed in Ukraine, and violent extremism impacting both countries. In her meetings, A/AAG Argentieri looked to bolster the close collaboration between the United States and the international community on bilateral justice matters.
From left to right: German Minister of Justice Buschmann, A/AAG Argentieri, Polish Minister of Justice Bodnar, and Ukrainian Prosecutor General Kostin.
A/AAG Argentieri and President of Eurojust Hamran.
“The Justice Department is working closely with our international partners to pursue comprehensive accountability for Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine,” said A/AAG Argentieri. “Our efforts are not limited to war crimes accountability, but through various initiatives and legal tools, targeting those responsible for fueling the Russian war machine — while holding the highest levels of leadership accountable for the aggression against Ukraine. I was honored to stand with our international partners to discuss furthering these efforts.”
A/AAG Argentieri and Germany’s Acting Federal Public Prosecutor General Dr. Otte.
During the visit, A/AAG Argentieri also visited the Topography of Terror Museum to learn more about the International Military Tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo, as well as other special tribunals and accountability mechanisms focused on accountability for aggression and war crimes committed during the war.
A/AAG Argentieri remains committed to continued cooperation between the United States and its European partners including Germany, Poland, and Ukraine.
Raleigh Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Raleigh man was sentenced to 144 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, and $81,000 in restitution, for receipt and possession of child pornography. Klaus De La Fuente, age 27, pled guilty on September 11, 2023.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, De La Fuente, was found using peer to peer file sharing networks to receive and distribute child pornography during an investigation by the Cary Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Law enforcement officers identified child pornography files that were associated with De La Fuente’s IP address. Based upon this, a search warrant was executed at his residence on April 1, 2022.
When the search warrant was executed, multiple digital devices were seized including a cell phone that was actively downloading child pornography at the time. When all devices were forensically examined, law enforcement discovered De La Fuente had been collecting child sexual abuse images since 2018 and had amassed a large collection of images and videos. In total, De La Fuente possessed 8,839 images and 278 videos depicting child sexual abuse. The collection of images and videos included very young children, infants and toddlers.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle presided over the sentencing. The Cary and Raleigh Police Departments, the United States’ Marshals Service and the Department of Homeland Security investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-101-BO.
Quincy, Illinois Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Quincy, Illinois man, Henry Speirs, 35, of the 700 block of Harrison Street, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual). After he completes his prison sentence, he will serve four years of supervised release.
Speirs was indicted in November 2020 and pleaded guilty in July of 2023. He has been detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since his arrest in 2020. Two co-defendants were previously sentenced, Brent Garner received a ten-year sentence and Brandy Friday received a five-year sentence. In total, Speirs was held accountable for 1,191.19 grams of methamphetamine.
The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) are not less than 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, not more than a $5,000,000 fine, and not less than 4 years of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Springfield Field Office, Illinois State Police West Central Illinois Task Force, and Quincy Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Speirs was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Quincy, Illinois Man Found Guilty of Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On February 23, 2024, Glenn Wooden, 39, of Quincy was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Over two days of trial before U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless, the United States presented evidence establishing the three controlled buys and the search of the defendant’s residence leading to the seizure of the drugs forming the basis of count four. Besides law enforcement agents, a DEA laboratory scientist testified as to the purity and weight of the methamphetamine. In total, the methamphetamine weighed 327 grams.
Sentencing for Wooden has been scheduled for July 2, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Illinois. At sentencing, Wooden faces a potential prison sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, not less than 5 years and up to life of supervised release and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
The Illinois State Police West Central Illinois Task Force, and Quincy Police Department investigated the case with assistance from Adams County States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Z. Weir and Sarah E. Seberger represented the government at trial.
Pryor Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – In June 2023, a federal jury found White guilty on two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 years of Age in Indian Country and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country.
Today, U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson sentenced Ricky Leroy White, 33, to 135 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon release, White will be required to register as a sex offender.
“Ricky White repeatedly preyed upon two children who should’ve been able to trust him. Both victims were courageous and testified in federal court exposing the abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office will not slow down our relentless pursuit to hold accountable perpetrators of child sexual abuse.”
According to court documents, from June 2010 through June 2017, White sexually abused two children who lived with him. Prosecutors argued that White has shown no remorse for his actions and that he did not suffer from a solitary lapse in judgment. White was calculated and deliberate with his sexual abuse and would take advantage of the two children while they were sleeping.
White is a member of the Cherokee Nation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar, Leah Paisner, and Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Par Funding Principals Charged in a RICO Indictment in Addition to Pending Charges of Securities Fraud, Extortion, Tax Crimes, Perjury, and ObstructionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – A second superseding indictment was filed yesterday charging a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) by three principals of Complete Business Solutions Group, Inc. d/b/a Par Funding (“Par Funding”) and also charging various other crimes included in a previous superseding indictment, including securities fraud, extortionate collection of credit, tax crimes, perjury, obstruction of justice, witness retaliation, and witness tampering, announced United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. These principals are Joseph LaForte, 52, Joseph Cole Barleta (“Joe Cole”), 39, and James LaForte, 46.
A separate indictment was filed charging Joseph LaForte, and his wife, Lisa McElhone, 43, with tax evasion, a conspiracy to avoid paying taxes, and a scheme to avoid paying approximately $1.6 million in income taxes due to the State of Pennsylvania by fraudulently claiming that their residence was Florida, when in fact they resided in Pennsylvania.
According to the second superseding indictment, codefendants Joseph LaForte, Joe Cole, and James LaForte, and others, were part of an association-in-fact RICO enterprise that conspired to commit a number of predicate crimes, including crimes related to the fleecing of Par Funding’s many investors and the extortionate collection of credit from Par Funding’s many merchant-customers. The indictment alleges that when the defendants were sued civilly by the SEC in July 2020, which resulted in a receivership taking over control of Par Funding, the enterprise took various illegal steps to attempt to regain control of Par Funding and to “defeat” the government, including through acts of obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and retaliation. The enterprise was structured with Joe LaForte as its leader and final decisionmaker, and it operated through various family members and close associates.
The indictment alleges that the principal purposes of the LaForte Enterprise were as follows:
- to generate money for its leadership, members, and associates through the commission of various criminal acts, such as securities fraud, wire fraud, the extortionate collection of debt, obstruction of justice, and retaliation;
- to conceal from investors, auditors, the government, and law enforcement that its members were self-dealing and enriching themselves to the detriment of Par Funding’s investors;
- to conceal Joseph LaForte’s identity, criminal history, and role as the leader of the enterprise and the functional Chief Executive Officer of Par Funding from Par Funding’s investors, customers, and auditors, and from the government and law enforcement, including through misrepresentations, false statements, and other means;
- to use extortionate means, including threats of violence, to collect money owed to Par Funding by its merchant-customers;
- to maintain control over Par Funding after Par Funding was put under the control of a court-appointed receiver, including by acts of obstruction and retaliation intended to frustrate and interfere with the receiver’s efforts to control Par Funding; and
- to protect the enterprise and its members from detection, apprehension, and prosecution by law enforcement.
It is alleged that as part of their fundraising efforts, these defendants and their conspirators caused false and misleading information to be conveyed to investors regarding various issues, including:
- Joseph LaForte’s true name, his role at Par Funding, and his criminal history;
- Par Funding’s underwriting process;
- the diversity of the company’s MCA portfolio;
- Par Funding’s default rate;
- Par Funding’s financial success and profitability;
- the company’s insurance; and
- the defendants’ self-dealing.
For instance, the indictment alleges that although Joseph LaForte operated Par Funding and referred to it as his business, he concealed this ownership and control by using his wife, Lisa McElhone, as his nominee. Joseph LaForte also used several aliases, such as “Joe Mack,” while working at the company. It is alleged that Joseph LaForte, Joe Cole, James LaForte, and their conspirators engaged in this deception to conceal Joseph LaForte’s true role as the person operating the company and his significant criminal history from investors.
The indictment also alleges that Joseph LaForte and James LaForte conspired with an individual named Renato “Gino” Gioe to participate in the extortionate collection of credit. It is alleged that during the course of Par Funding’s operations, these individuals made hostile, threatening, and intimidating communications to Par Funding’s customers in person and over the telephone in order to collect on delinquent MCAs. For example, the indictment alleges that Joseph LaForte threatened to “blow up” a delinquent customer’s home in May 2019 and asked another delinquent customer in August 2019 whether the customer had heard of “cement shoes.” In addition, the indictment alleges that in May 2018, James LaForte told one customer that he was a “soldier for the family” who had torched people’s cars and kicked people’s teeth in.
Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Joseph LaForte committed a variety of tax crimes. It is alleged that Joseph LaForte committed tax crimes by failing to report millions of dollars in cash kickbacks that he personally received from a Par Funding customer, and by regularly paying cash wages to Par Funding employees but not withholding taxes from these wages or reporting them to the IRS.
It is further alleged that Joseph LaForte and Joe Cole each committed perjury twice during depositions in federal lawsuits against Par Funding, making misrepresentations regarding various matters. For instance, the indictment alleges that Joseph LaForte lied under oath about his knowledge of his wife’s role at Par Funding, Joe Cole’s role at the company, and the company’s default rate. The indictment alleges that Joe Cole lied under oath about who was on Par Funding’s credit committee (which Joseph LaForte ran) and who ran Par Funding.
Finally, the indictment alleges that Joseph LaForte and James LaForte engaged in obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and retaliation. Specifically, it is alleged that in late February 2023, on the streets of Center City Philadelphia, James LaForte, with the assistance of and in coordination with Joseph LaForte, physically assaulted counsel for the receiver for Par Funding in a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Southern District of Florida. Moreover, in connection with the same lawsuit, the indictment alleges that Joseph LaForte threatened to cause serious bodily injury to another individual in November 2022. Lastly, it is alleged that James LaForte made threats of violence to multiple parties in early 2023, in an effort to interfere with the SEC lawsuit, a federal grand jury investigation, and an anticipated federal prosecution, as well as to retaliate against these parties.
If convicted of all counts charged against them, the defendants are facing decades or more of imprisonment, and they also face full restitution, a fine, and a period of supervised release and/or probation.
In a separate indictment, it is alleged that Joseph LaForte and Lisa McElhone committed several tax crimes. For instance, it is alleged that the married couple defrauded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania out of more than approximately $1.6 million of state taxes by falsely claiming to be residents of Florida, even though they worked, lived, and spent more than 300 days per year in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Joseph LaForte and Lisa McElhone worked together to evade the payment of over half a million dollars of employment taxes that had been imposed on Joseph LaForte in connection with companies that he had operated in the mid-2000s.
An indictment charging Complete Business Solutions Group, Inc., doing business as Par Funding, with wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy, was also filed.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General, and Pennsylvania State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Murray, Alexandra Lastowski, and Matthew Newcomer. The SEC in Florida investigated and litigated the civil securities fraud charges, which formed the basis of a portion of the criminal prosecution.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Own Every Dollar Gang Member Pleads Guilty to 2022 MurderRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea today of MAYOVANEX RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Menorcito,” in connection with his criminal activities as a member of the violent gang Own Every Dollar (“OED”), including the 2022 murder of Anthony Savarese. RODRIGUEZ pled guilty today to several charges, including murder through use of a firearm, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “On February 7, 2022, Mayovanex Rodriguez shot and killed Anthony Savarese in the head at point-blank range in the Bronx. That murder is just one of the many acts of violence that members and associates of OED have committed that have terrorized Washington Heights and surrounding communities. This plea is a reminder that this Office will relentlessly pursue any gangs who threaten the safety of New Yorkers and that gang members who commit violent crimes will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
RODRIGUEZ is a member of the violent gang OED, a subset of the Trinitarios gang based in and around the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. The indictments in this case charge 24 members and associates of OED with numerous violent crimes, including five murders and 15 attempted murders.
On February 7, 2022, shortly after midnight, RODRIGUEZ attempted to commit a gunpoint robbery of 41-year-old Anthony Savarese on Andrews Avenue between West 183rd Street and West Fordham Road in the Bronx. During the attempted robbery, RODRIGUEZ shot Savarese in the head from point-blank range, killing him.
Nine other defendants previously pled guilty in the case.
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RODRIGUEZ, 29, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. RODRIGUEZ is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken on May 30, 2024.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Kevin Mead, and Ashley C. Nicolas are in charge of the prosecution.
Norwell Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Norwell man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to felony narcotics charges.
Frederick Dechristoforo, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for June 6, 2024. Dechristoforo was arrested in November 2022 and indicted in December 2022.
In December 2021, a search was conducted at Dechristoforo’s residence in Norwell where several hundred counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl were recovered in the kitchen.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Tolkoff and John Reynolds of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Nogales Man Indicted for Trafficking in FirearmsRead the Press Release
Firearms Trafficker Found with Multiple Rifles, Pistols, and Magazines
TUCSON, Ariz. – On February 21, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Jose Rene Murrieta, 30, of Nogales, on one count of Smuggling Goods from the United States, Felony Receipt of a Firearm, and Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms Out of the United States to Promote a Felony.
The complaint alleges that on January 23, 2024, Murrieta attempted to exit the United States and enter the Republic of Mexico through the DeConcini Port of Entry. After a search of Murrieta’s vehicle, United States Customs and Border Protection Officers located multiple rifles, pistols, and magazines. During an interview, Murietta admitted he was smuggling the items to Mexico in exchange for money.
Smuggling Goods from the United States carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Felony Receipt of a Firearm and Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms Out of the United States to Promote a Felony carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted under criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-00786-SHR-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-022_Murrieta# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.New Jersey man sentenced for COVID-19 fraudRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James Okolo, 61, of West Orange, New Jersey, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael DiGiacomo, who handled the case, stated that Okolo and others devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration out of over $700,000 in CARES Act money designated for businesses suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme involved the submission of fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster loan applications under the names of various businesses. Okolo’s role in the scheme was to find a bank account where the fraudulent loan proceeds were to be deposited.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso.
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Missoula man sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for trafficking methRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Missoula man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the community was sentenced today to 11 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Kevin Dean McLeod, 54, pleaded guilty in October of 2023 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force began investigating McLeod in the Spring of 2023. McLeod sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant, and later to an undercover agent, for a total of five times during the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Mississippi Man Indicted on Firearm and Counterfeiting ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Bryan Lyndell Chapman (26, Mississippi) with one count of manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, one count of passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Chapman faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the counterfeiting offenses, up to 15 years in federal prison on the firearm offense, and payment of restitution to the victims he allegedly defrauded. The indictment also notifies Chapman that the United States intends to forfeit a Bushmaster Firearms pistol, ammunition, and a printer traceable to the offenses. Chapman was arrested on February 26, 2024, and ordered detained.
According to the indictment and public records, from 2023 into 2024, Chapman manufactured counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. He then defrauded businesses by passing the counterfeit currency. At the time of his arrest, Chapman was out on bond for a pending felony firearm charge in the state of Mississippi. He also was previously convicted of a felony in state court in Tennessee. As a convicted felon, Chapman is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office, and the United States Secret Service – Jacksonville Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to Domestic AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Ashton Louis Apachito pleaded guilty in federal court to assault of an intimate partner by strangling. Apachito, 19, of Mescalero and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to publicly available court documents, on July 19, 2023, Apachito assaulted his girlfriend, Jane Doe, at his mother’s house. Following the incident, Jane Doe left the residence to stay with her mother. Over the next several days, Apachito harassed Jane Doe by phone and threatened to throw all of her belongings in the road. On July 29, Jane Doe returned to the residence to collect her belongings, at which time Apachito attacked Jane Doe, pushing her to the ground, kicking her in the stomach multiple times and choking her. The next morning, Jane Doe called her mother and asked her to pick her up. Jane Doe’s mother reported the domestic violence to BIA and Jane Doe was transported to the Lincoln County Medica Center for treatment.
At sentencing, Apachito faces up to 10 years imprisonment.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
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Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Escaping from Federal Re-Entry CenterRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man pleaded guilty today to escaping from a federal facility.
According to court documents and facts admitted by the defendant in open court, Timothy Louis Jones, Jr., 36, escaped the Bureau of Prisons residential re-entry center at which he was confined. Jones was permitted to leave the facility in the morning to go to work but was required to return to the facility each evening immediately after work. In November 2023, Jones went to work but never returned to the facility despite repeated calls from staff at the facility. Jones was eventually taken into custody in Alabama by the U.S. Marshals Service. Such conduct is prohibited by federal law.
Jones will be sentenced on May 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and U.S. Marshal Mark B. Shepherd made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
Meriden Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that KENNETH MICHAEL STROTHERS, 27, of Meriden, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to federal robbery charges.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation by the FBI and several local police departments into a series of armed robberies that occurred across Connecticut in early 2021. The investigation revealed that Strothers committed at least 10 robberies over an approximately two-week period.
Strothers pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (“Hobbs Act robbery”) and specifically admitted that he robbed businesses in Wethersfield and New Britain.
On February 9, 2021, Strothers entered the Valero gas station store at 930 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, used a firearm to pistol-whip the store clerk in the head, stole approximately $260 from two cash registers, and fled the scene in a stolen car. The store clerk was hospitalized with a serious head wound.
On February 10, 2021, Strothers entered Broad Street Pawn at 210 Broad Street in New Britain, used a firearm to pistol-whip a store employee in the head, stole approximately $2,000, and fled the scene with two associates in a stolen truck. Three children of the store owner hid in a bathroom during the robbery.
Strothers was arrested on February 12, 2021, and investigators seized from him the handgun he used during the robberies. He has been detained in state custody since his arrest.
At sentencing, Strothers faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Under the terms of a binding plea agreement, if accepted by the court, the parties have agreed that an effective sentence of 14 years of imprisonment is appropriate in this case.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Britain Police Department, the Wethersfield Police Department, the Newington Police Department, the Cromwell Police Department, the West Hartford Police Department, the Meriden Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.
Massachusetts Drug Courier Sentenced for Transporting CocaineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Steven R. Windoloski, 33, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, was sentenced on February 27, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Windoloski to 51 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Windoloski’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On August 11, 2022, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol conducted a traffic stop of a Mitsubishi Outlander in Hershey, Nebraska. Windoloski was the driver. Troopers searched the vehicle and located approximately 100 bricks of cocaine with each brick weighing approximately one kilogram. Windoloski knew he was transporting the cocaine and he intended to distribute it.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Using Straw Purchaser to Illegally Buy 33 Firearms in VirginiaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Temple Hills, Maryland man pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the straw purchase of 33 guns from Virginia firearms dealers.
According to court documents, Melvin Plowden, 34, a convicted felon, arranged for a co-conspirator with no prior felony convictions to purchase firearms on Plowden’s behalf, which Plowden resold. Plowden instructed the co-conspirator on which firearms to purchase and gave him money to pay for the firearms.
Between October 2019 and June 2020, the co-conspirator purchased 33 firearms from federal firearms dealers in Virginia, all on Plowden’s behalf. Of the firearms straw-purchased by the co-conspirator, 17 have been recovered in connection with criminal activity or from individuals prohibited from possessing the firearms, including Plowden. In June 2020, Plowden was arrested following an incident in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and one of the straw-purchased firearms was found in his possession.
Plowden is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina C. Stam and Megan Braun are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-198.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder for a Fatal Shooting in Northeast D.C. in November 2023Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Andre Hicks, 40, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to second degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Daniel Adams, 34, of Southeast Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 3, 2024.
According to the government’s evidence, around 9:10 p.m. on November 25, 2023, Hicks approached 1705 Benning Road Northeast, Washington, D.C., on foot. Several people were standing inside and immediately out front of that address. The victim, Daniel Adams, was one of the people standing out front. After walking up to the address and going up its front stairs, the defendant stood for a moment by the front door, looking back in the direction of Mr. Adams. The defendant then pulled a gun out of his pants and held it to his side, away from and out of view of the victim. With the gun out, the defendant started to slowly walk back down the steps in front of that building toward where the victim was standing. Once the defendant had come within a few feet of the victim, he drew his gun up, pointed it at the victim, and started firing repeatedly. Hicks continued to fire at Mr. Adams as Mr. Adams ran away. Hicks then fled the scene. Mr. Adams was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot wounds and died the next day.
This case was investigated by the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy.
Marijuana User Who Possessed Firearms Sentenced to Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man who possessed multiple firearms, including one with a device to convert it into a fully automatic weapon was sentenced February 26, 2024, to three years in federal prison.
Jacqusyn Zechariah Grubb, age 21, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 29, 2023 guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a marijuana user.
Evidence in the case showed that Grubb possessed multiple firearms, including one that had a conversion device attached making it a fully automatic weapon, and high-capacity magazines. Grubb also possessed a personally made firearm, also known as a “ghost gun.” The court also found Grubb possessed a firearm in connection with the offense of possession for marijuana with intent to deliver.
Grubb was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Grubb was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Grubb is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-cr-1014.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Manhattan Man Convicted at Trial of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the conviction of NELSON OLIVO on charges of narcotics trafficking conspiracy. The defendant was found guilty yesterday following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni. OLIVO will be sentenced on June 27, 2024, by Judge Caproni.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Yesterday, a unanimous jury found that Nelson Olivo agreed with others to sell large amounts of deadly drugs, including fentanyl, in New York City. Olivo posed a danger to the community through his involvement in the distribution of dangerous narcotics, including fentanyl—the deadliest drug our nation has ever encountered. Together with our law enforcement partners, this Office will continue to be hyper-focused on combatting the fentanyl crisis by holding narcotics traffickers, such as Nelson Olivo, responsible for their actions.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “Nelson Olivo’s conviction signals the public’s understanding not only of the brazen severity of his crimes, but also of the continued, deadly impacts of the drug epidemic, especially fentanyl, on our country. HSI, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, seized over 5,500 pounds of fentanyl in the first two months of fiscal year 2024 – with more than 3,000 pounds seized in November alone. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement partners within the El Dorado Task Force for their continued efforts toward securing justice and, in turn, saving lives.”
According to the Indictment, public filings, and evidence presented at trial:
From about July 2022 to about October 12, 2022, OLIVO operated a stash house in the Bronx where he worked with co-conspirators to distribute wholesale and retail quantities of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and other narcotics.
On October 12, 2022, a search warrant was executed on OLIVO’s Bronx stash house after he and his co-conspirators were seen attempting to empty the house of evidence of their drug conspiracy. The search of the house and cars outside it recovered approximately one kilogram of pills containing methamphetamine; fentanyl in pill and powder form, including fentanyl mixed with the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine; additional narcotics; two kilo presses and a kilo stamp; and other narcotics paraphernalia and ammunition. At trial, text messages, photographs, video evidence, and wiretap recordings of the defendant’s phone, established that the defendant had returned to the U.S. in June 2022 to set up the stash house after having spent the prior 18 months in Colombia, where he participated in manufacturing large amounts of cocaine in a jungle laboratory. Below are photographs of some of the evidence recovered in this case.
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OLIVO, 46, of New York, New York, was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the El Dorado Task Force, which is comprised of law enforcement officers from HSI, the New York State Police, the Inspector General for the New York City Housing Authority, the Nassau County Sherriff’s Department, and the Fort Lee Police Department.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane Y. Chong and Matthew R. Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Owen Foley and Jayda Foote.
Man Sentenced for Smuggling Machineguns and Silencers into the United States, Which He Then Sold on Facebook MarketplaceRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison for smuggling machineguns and firearm silencers into the United States, which he then sold on Facebook Marketplace.
According to court documents, John Patrick Gordon Dane, 36, ordered firearm parts from black-market websites. These parts included Glock switches, also referred to as auto-sears, which are small devices that can be attached to handguns, converting semi-automatic pistols into machine pistols capable of fully automatic fire. Because a switch causes a firearm to expel more than one projectile with a single pull of the trigger, the part is classified as a machinegun under federal law. Dane also purchased firearm silencers from the black-market websites. The firearm parts were shipped to Dane’s residence with manifests that disguised the contents of the packages.
On January 10, 2023, law enforcement officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Virginia Beach Police Department executed a search warrant at Dane’s residence. During the search, investigators found Dane in a shed on his property that he used to assemble and modify firearms. Investigators seized 17 firearms from the shed. The recovered firearms included an AR-15 rifle that had been converted to fire as a machinegun. Investigators also located a Glock firearm with a large capacity magazine, pictured below, that had a switch affixed to it in an attempt to allow it to fire fully automatic. Other firearms recovered from the shed included “ghost guns,” or firearms manufactured without serial numbers.
Dane had been previously convicted of a felony offense in 2012 in Virginia.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C.; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of the Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-104.
Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threat to Michigan Election WorkerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An Indiana man pleaded guilty today to sending a communication that included a threat of violence to an election worker in Michigan.
“Andrew Nickels threatened that he and millions of so-called ‘patriots’ would kill an election worker in Michigan. Among other threats, he said the local public official deserved a ‘throat to the knife’ for saying that there were no irregularities in the election,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Election officials and workers play a critical role in safeguarding free and fair elections. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who seek to undermine this core tenet of our democracy by threatening election officials with violence.”
According to court documents, on or about Nov. 10, 2020, Andrew Nickels, 37, of Carmel, called the clerk of a local municipality and left a voicemail threatening to kill the local official. As part of the message, Nickels stated, in part, “We’re watching your…mouth talk about how you think that there’s no irregularities…[Y]ou frauded out America of a real election.” Nickels then told the clerk that “you’re gonna pay for it,” and described how “ten million plus patriots will surround you when you least expect it.” He continued, in relevant part: “[W]e’ll [expletive] kill you…[Y]ou will [expletive] pay for your [expletive] lying ass remarks…We will [expletive] take you out. [Expletive] your family, [expletive] your life, and you deserve a [expletive] throat to the knife…Watch your [expletive] back…watch your [expletive] back.”
“No public official should face the violent threats that the victim in this case did, just for doing their job of ensuring the fairness and integrity our federal, state, and local elections,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Today’s guilty plea should send a clear message that those who engage in this egregious conduct will be held accountable.”
“Those who work to ensure the integrity of our democratic process should be able to continue without fear of intimidation or violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI will not tolerate threats against any local, state, or federal elections workers and will continue working with our law enforcement partners to mitigate such threats.”
Nickels pleaded guilty to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Detroit Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson for the Eastern District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. A year after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun.
Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threat to Michigan Election WorkerRead the Press Release
An Indiana man pleaded guilty today to sending a communication that included a threat of violence to an election worker in Michigan.
“Andrew Nickels threatened that he and millions of so-called ‘patriots’ would kill an election worker in Michigan. Among other threats, he said the local public official deserved a ‘throat to the knife’ for saying that there were no irregularities in the election,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Election officials and workers play a critical role in safeguarding free and fair elections. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who seek to undermine this core tenet of our democracy by threatening election officials with violence.”
According to court documents, on or about Nov. 10, 2020, Andrew Nickels, 37, of Carmel, called the clerk of a local municipality and left a voicemail threatening to kill the local official. As part of the message, Nickels stated, in part, “We’re watching your…mouth talk about how you think that there’s no irregularities…[Y]ou frauded out America of a real election.” Nickels then told the clerk that “you’re gonna pay for it,” and described how “ten million plus patriots will surround you when you least expect it.” He continued, in relevant part: “[W]e’ll [expletive] kill you…[Y]ou will [expletive] pay for your [expletive] lying ass remarks…We will [expletive] take you out. [Expletive] your family, [expletive] your life, and you deserve a [expletive] throat to the knife…Watch your [expletive] back…watch your [expletive] back.”
“No public official should face the violent threats that the victim in this case did, just for doing their job of ensuring the fairness and integrity our federal, state, and local elections,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Today’s guilty plea should send a clear message that those who engage in this egregious conduct will be held accountable.”
“Those who work to ensure the integrity of our democratic process should be able to continue without fear of intimidation or violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI will not tolerate threats against any local, state, or federal elections workers and will continue working with our law enforcement partners to mitigate such threats.”
Nickels pleaded guilty to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Detroit Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson for the Eastern District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Over two years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun.
Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Terry L. Christianson, 66, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 26, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Christianson to 180 months’ imprisonment for the drug offense, a concurrent 120 months’ imprisonment for the firearm offense, and ordered that he forfeit $7,125. There is no parole in the federal system. After Christianson’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On March 27, 2022, officers in Lincoln, Nebraska stopped Christianson for a traffic violation. During the stop, an officer saw the handle of a handgun inside Christianson’s vehicle. Officers searched the truck and recovered a revolver, a safe containing $7,125, and a cooler containing approximately 340 grams (about 12 ounces) of actual meth. Christianson had previously been convicted of a felony offense.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.
Lexington Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David Murcia-Retana, 21, of Lexington, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 27, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Murcia-Retana to 60- months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Murcia-Retana release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
On May 25, 2021, in Lexington, law enforcement agents executed a controlled buy of meth from Murcia-Retana. A confidential informant (“the CI”) met with Murcia-Retana at a location in Lexington and provided Murcia-Retana with $1,200 in exchange for meth. The CI then provided the meth to the agents. The meth was laboratory tested and confirmed to be approximately 45 grams of actual meth.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Leader of Real Estate Investment Firm Admits Role in $658 Million Ponzi Scheme and Multimillion-Dollar Tax Evasion ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The shadow chief executive officer of National Realty Investment Advisors LLC (NRIA) today admitted orchestrating a scheme to defraud more than 2,000 investors in a $658 million Ponzi scheme and conspiring to evade millions of dollars in tax liabilities, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Thomas Nicholas Salzano, aka “Nicholas Salzano,” 65, of Secaucus, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Salzano admitted he made numerous misrepresentations to investors while he secretly ran NRIA behind the scenes. He also admitted to misappropriating millions of dollars from investors to enrich himself and his family and friends.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“For years, Salzano told lie after lie to investors, continuously deceived them, and operated his business as a Ponzi scheme, through which he stole money from thousands of investors. His greed and flagrant disregard for the law caused staggering losses in excess of $650 million. This office will continue to prioritize prosecuting individuals, like Salzano, to ensure that those who engage in rampant fraud are punished with long jail sentences and are ordered to make their victims whole.”
“Many people who decide to invest have to put a lot of faith in so-called financial experts, hoping their money grows and doesn’t one day disappear,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Salzano admits he played a role in a scam that cost investors $658 million. History has shown over and over and over again, Ponzi schemes don't ever pay out, yet criminals keep trying to beat the system. FBI Newark and our law enforcement partners are doing all we can to help the victims in this case. We want others who may have faced a similar situation to contact us so we can help you as well.”
“Salzano not only victimized thousands of investors, but he also defrauded honest taxpayers by concealing his income from the IRS and evading his tax liability to the tune of millions of dollars,” IRS – Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis Jr., Boston Field Office, said. “Today’s guilty plea by Salzano demonstrates how IRS – Criminal Investigation will continue to use their financial expertise to identify and investigate these types of investor fraud schemes with our law enforcement partners.”
As part of his plea agreement, Salzano has agreed to a prison term of eight to 12 years, a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $8.52 million, and he has agreed to pay full restitution of $507.4 million to the victims of his offenses.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From February 2018 through January 2022, Salzano and others defrauded investors and potential investors of NRIA Partners Portfolio Fund I LLC (the “Fund”), a real estate fund operated by NRIA, of $650 million through lies, deception, misleading statements, and material omissions. These included the financial position of NRIA, the manner in which the defendants and their conspirators used Fund investor money, and Salzano’s managerial role at NRIA and his history of fraud.
The defendants executed their scheme through an aggressive multiyear, nationwide marketing campaign that involved thousands of emails to investors; advertisements on billboards, television, and radio; and meetings and presentations to investors. Salzano led and directed the marketing campaign, which employed deception, material misrepresentations and omissions, and falsified documents to manipulate investors, which were intended to mislead Fund investors into believing that NRIA was a solvent business that generated significant profits. In reality, NRIA generated little to no profits and operated as a Ponzi scheme, which was kept afloat by new investors. Despite investing almost none of their own capital into the business, the defendants misappropriated millions of dollars of investor money to support their lavish lifestyles, including expensive dinners, extravagant birthday parties, and payments to family and associates who did not work at NRIA.
Salzano concealed his true managerial role at NRIA in an effort to avoid scrutiny from investors of Salzano’s history of fraud at a large telecommunications company. In addition to defrauding investors, Salzano orchestrated a separate conspiracy to obstruct, impede, and impair the IRS in its effort to collect millions of dollars in outstanding taxes Salzano owed to the U.S. Treasury by, among other things, lying to the IRS, using a web of nominees, opening bank accounts in the names of phony entities, and using false and fraudulent company documents.
Conspiring to defraud the United States carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The securities fraud count and the wire fraud conspiracy count are both punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Pursuant to the terms of his plea agreement, the maximum prison term that can be imposed on Salzano is 12 years. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 6, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Chavis in Boston; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation, with assistance from FBI Headquarters Criminal Investigative Division and the Department of Justice Tax Division.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Fayer, Lauren E. Repole, and John Mezzanotte, all of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division, with assistance from Trial Attorney Samuel B. Bean of the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division.
salzano.indictment.pdfJustin Gebo Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Justin Gebo pleaded guilty today in connection with his possession of firearms as a prohibited person, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Justin Gebo, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, including being in possession of a firearm while under indictment and being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2024.
According to the charging documents, on or about January 1, 2023, Gebo was in receipt of a Ceska Zrojovka (“CZ”) model Scorpion EVO 3, S2, 9x19mm short-barreled rifle, with an attached armbrace, while he was under felony indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. That firearm was later recovered during a homicide investigation on June 3, 2023, in Franklin, New Hampshire. In addition, on or about February 3, 2023, Gebo was in possession of a 17 Design and Manufacturing, model 17DM-15, multicaliber rifle, after he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charge of felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm wile under indictment provides for a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police and the Laconia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W.R. Ward is prosecuting the case.
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Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Miami-Based Return PreparerRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a complaint today seeking to bar a Miami-area return preparer from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
The civil complaint against Aniel Saint-Hilaire was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint alleges that Saint-Hilaire, through his numerous business entities, prepares federal income tax returns for Miami-area taxpayers on which he claims fraudulent deductions and credits to purposely underreport the tax his customers owe and claim refunds they are not entitled to receive. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Saint-Hilaire prepared returns with false or inflated deductions, business expenses and business losses, as well as false claims for residential energy credits, fuel tax credits and other credits. The complaint also alleges that Saint-Hilaire hides his tax preparation activity by failing to properly identify himself on the tax returns that he prepares.
The government further alleges that Saint-Hilaire files thousands of tax returns each year, with approximately 99% of the returns he prepares claiming a refund. By repeatedly understating his customers’ tax liabilities, the complaint alleges that the United States has been harmed by Saint-Hilaire’s conduct, resulting in the significant loss in tax revenue of an estimated $16.5 million each year. According to the complaint, in addition to seeking an injunction against Saint-Hilaire, the government requested an order of disgorgement to prevent Saint-Hilaire from profiting from his violation of the internal revenue laws.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
India- and New Jersey-Based Jeweler Charged with Multimillion-Dollar International Trade Fraud Scheme and Unlicensed Money TransmittingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An India- and New Jersey-based man who operated jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District was charged with spearheading a scheme to illegally evade customs duties for millions of dollars of jewelry imports into the United States and with illegally processing millions of dollars through unlicensed money transmitting businesses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Monishkumar Kirankumar Doshi Shah, aka “Monish Doshi Shah,” 39, of Mumbai, India, and Jersey City, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business. He was arrested over the weekend and appeared appear on Feb. 26, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court. Shah was released on $100,000 bond, with home detention and location monitoring.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January 2015 through September 2023, Shah engaged in a scheme to evade duties for shipments of jewelry from Turkey and India to the United States. Shah would ship or instruct his conspirators to ship goods from Turkey or India – which would have been subject to an approximately 5.5 percent duty if shipped directly to the United States – to one of Shah’s companies in South Korea. Shah’s conspirators in South Korea would change the labels on the jewelry to state that they were from South Korea instead of Turkey or India, and then ship them to Shah or his customers in the United States, thereby unlawfully evading the duty. Shah would also make and instruct his customers to make fake invoices and packing lists to make it look like Shah’s South Korean companies were actually ordering jewelry from Turkey or India. During the scheme, Shah shipped millions of dollars of jewelry from South Korea to the United States.
From July 2020 through November 2021, Shah operated numerous purported jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District, including MKore LLC (MKore), MKore USA Inc. (MKore USA), and Vruman Corp. (Vruman). Shah used these entities to conduct millions of dollars in illegal financial transactions for customers – including converting cash to checks or wire transfers. Shah would also collect cash from customers and use conspirators’ jewelry companies, which were also located in the Diamond District, to convert the cash into wires or checks. At times, Shah and his conspirators moved more than a million dollars of cash in a single day. In exchange for their services, Shah and his conspirators charged a fee. None of Shah’s or his conspirators’ companies were registered as money transmitting businesses with New York, New Jersey, or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
The wire fraud conspiracy charge is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. The charge of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an illegal money transmitting business carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Each count is also punishable by a maximum fine of either $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; special agents with Homeland Security Investigations New York, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; and officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of New York/Newark, under the direction of Port Director TenaVel Thomas, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New York; Homeland Security Investigations in Seoul, South Korea; the Korea Customs Service in South Korea; the Seoul Customs Special Investigation Office in South Korea; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Paterson; the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department; the Morristown Police Department; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General; and the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marko Pesce and Olta Bejleri of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark, with assistance from William Kanellis of the Department of Justice Trade Fraud Task Force.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
shah.complaint.pdf